The Oyo State Government has begun the second phase of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER).
The state government kick-started the phase with the distribution of 10kg bags of rice to 30,000 residents on Wednesday.
Speaking at the presentation of the food relief item held at the Local Government Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Secretary of the SAfER Committee and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musibau Babatunde, said the food distribution was aimed at alleviating poverty among residents.
He added that the food relief items would also improve the welfare of the residents, especially the social disadvantaged groups in the state.
According to Babatunde, the beneficiaries of the food relief item were selected across the 33 local government areas of the state and they included widows, the underprivileged, people living with disabilities, the aged and other vulnerable people.
He said: “This ceremony is a symbolic presentation of rice that was given to Oyo State by the Aliko Dangote Foundation.
“The state is already in the second phase of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER), which has been put together by the governor of the state to alleviate poverty and improve the welfare of the residents. This is part of the strategic partnership the state is forming with the private sector.
“This initiative will cut across socially disadvantaged groups in the state, from the physically challenged to the vulnerable groups and the elderly.
“We are expecting about 30,000 beneficiaries and we are going to ensure it touches all the local government areas in the state.”
Some of the beneficiaries; Mrs Omotayo Borode, Alhaji Tajudeen Olapade and Mr Emmanuel Adepoju, expressed their gratitude to Governor Makinde and the Aliko Dangote Foundation for their support.
The event had in attendance some government functionaries and selected beneficiaries across the 33 local governments in the state.
